Statement from Steve Ertle about the future of Fernwood

The following is a statement from Steve Ertle about the future of Fernwood:

Fernwood Hotel and Convention Center will be closing its doors in order to restructure and secure additional bank financing to bring the property up to today’s standards.

Ownership is looking to make improvements to Fernwood to make it a viable property for the future.

Current plans looking to reopen for the summer of 2014.

Management and sales staff are currently busy relocating booked events and parties.

Hotel guests are being relocated to The Comfort Inn in Bartonsville and Fernwood Resorts and Villas in Bushkill.

Area resorts and hotels are also being contacted to help rebook parties and events.

Deposits on current bookings of events and parties that cannot be relocated or rebooked will receive a refund.

Fernwood sales office can be reached at 1-800-528-5560.

Ownership apologizes to press for not meeting with them this morning but would like them to know that everyone on staff is currently working on contacting area hotel and resort partners to help find employment for employees.

Fernwood hotel employs around 40 employees.

There is some confusion about a meeting that was to be held to tell employees about the closing. Management felt because most employees did not work that day it was better to contact them directly by phone or text message (than) to have them spend finances on having them come in that day.

A few employees did show up and immediately started spreading the word though text messaging and social networking. After contacting our general manager on property, our staff was in the process of being called or text messaged individually before the word spread.

We thank the press and the Pocono community for their support and ask for their continued support as we move forward to the future.